UTSA history – sealed with a kick

MOBILE, Ala. — UTSA players felt like they had a score to settle with the South Alabama Jaguars.

They felt like they had last year’s game won at home in the Alamodome and let it get away in double overtime.

But after the Roadrunners returned the favor with a pulsating 33-31 victory in the season opener Saturday afternoon, there was no talk of revenge.

There was only celebration, with UTSA players mobbing kicker Sean Ianno on the sidelines at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Ianno’s career-best, 51-yard field goal was good with 16 seconds left to seal UTSA’s first win in school history over a major college program.

“It felt amazing,” Ianno said. “I just wanted to show everyone I was ready to make that kick, just to finish off all the hard work they put in the whole game.”

Ianno had a 26-yard field goal attempt blocked at the end of regulation last year, and South Alabama escaped with a 30-27 victory in double overtime.

When Ianno lined up the eventual game-winner, UTSA quarterback Eric Soza had a good feeling.

“I knew that he’d put in a lot of work in the offseason,” Soza said. “I knew if we could get it in that range that he was going to put it through.”

Ianno’s kicked capped a wild fourth quarter in which the lead changed hands four times.

Soza credited South Alabama for a “heck of a game.”

“They were great,” he said. “I’m going to wish them the best the rest of the year.”

Soza fired three touchdown passes on the day, including a clutch, fourth-down throw to Earon Holmes in the fourth quarter.

He also fired scoring strikes to Kam Jones and Cole Hicks in the first quarter.

Ianno kicked four field goals, with the others from 47, 32 and 21 yards.

As a result, the second-year Roadrunners capped a hectic week with their first victory in history over a Football Bowl Subdivision program and their first victory over anyone on the road.

Soza said winning on the road, after four road losses in the inaugural season, carries the most significance to him.

“Because you have to win on the road to be successful, and in a hostile environment,” he said. “Their fans were great. I’m just happy our guys pulled through all the adversity and the lead changes. It shows some maturity.”

In a game delayed two days because of Hurricane Isaac, the Jaguars took the field with a crowd of 17,144 rooting them on.

Carrying a roster with the FBS maximum 85 scholarship athletes, the Jaguars also enjoyed some advantages in numbers and in size, particularly with their offensive line.

But the Roadrunners, an FBS transitional program with only about 70 players on scholarship, seemed to hold the edge at the quarterback position, with some speedy receivers and with Ianno.

Also, with execution.

South Alabama created a momentum-changing play with an interception of Soza in the fourth quarter, then cashed it in with a touchdown.

But the opportunistic visiting team capitalized on four Jaguars turnovers and turned them into 20 points.

“Giving it away may not be the right word,” South Alabama coach Joey Jones said. “But (by taking care of the ball) it would have given us a lot better chance to win.”